Trolley.



PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905.

J. H. THOMPSON.

TROLLEY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 784,448. PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905. J. H. THOMPSON.

TROLLEY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L.

.4 {T/ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIII NITED STATES Patented March '7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. THOMPSON, OF CHARLESTON, VEST VIRGINIA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL ROGAN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

TROLLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,448, dated March '7, 1905.

Application filed August 4, 1904:. Serial NO. 219,533-

To all whom, it ntrty concern/.-

Be it known that I,JoI-IN H.THoMrsoN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolleys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trolleys for electric railways, and more particularly to mechanism for throwing the trolley out of the path of the electrical conductor or trolley-wire and its supports when the trolley runs 0d the wire or is otherwise accidentally disengaged therefrom, so as to prevent injury to or breakage of any of said parts when the car is in motion and the trolley leaves the wire.

It is well known that the trolley frequently runs off the wire or jumps the track, so to speak, when the car is in motion, and by coming in contact with the hangers or supports for the trolley-wire when the car is moving rapidly such supports or the trolley, or both, are often broken or injured, so as to materially interfere with the operation of the road.

The object of my invention is to provide eflicient and reliable means for quickly automatically throwing the trolley out of the path of the trolley-wire and its supports the instant the trolley leaves the wire,thereby avoiding all liability of injury to or breakage of such parts under such conditions and to adapt the mechanism by which the trolley is normally yieldingly maintained inelectrical contact with the trolley-wire to return the trolley into position to reongage the trolley-wire and to yieldingly sustain it in engagement therewith until again disengaged.

The invention will first be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In said drawings, which illustrate one form of embodiment of my invention, the details of which may be modified in various ways without changing the principle involved or tached from the car, showing the trolleywheel disengaged from the trolley-wire and the arms of the trolley-pole thrown out of alinement to release the pressure and permit the trolley-pole to drop downward by gravity out of the path of the trolley-wire supports. Fig. 3 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 2, showing the trolley-pole lowered beneath the trolley-wire. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the trolley-pole drawn down to reengage and lock the spring-pressure mechanism to the trolley-pole for restoring the latter to working position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trolley and cooperating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional side elevation of the jointed portion of the trolley-pole, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rocking lever with equalizing-segment and shi fting fulcrumpins.

In the drawings the letter A denotes a bracket or frame supporting the trolley and spring-actuated mechanism for maintaining electrical contact between the trolley-wheel and trolley-wire with a yielding pressure, said bracket being suitably swiveled on top of the car to permit the usual lateral swing or play of the trolley-pole in turning curves, &c. The pole B is preferably tubular and may be composed of sections 6, 7/, and b the latter carrying the trolley-wheel B and having its lower end hinged to the upper end of the section I), so as to permit the joint to be broken to throw the sections out of alinement and release the spring-pressure thereon, as will be presently described. The trolley-pole is suitably pivoted or journaled at its lower end between uprights or standards a a on the bracket A to adapt it to swing vertically or rise and fall to accommodate itself to any-undulations in the trolley-wire and is sustained in. operative position with a yielding pressure by means of a spring F and cooperating devices,

with provision for releasing the pressure and allowing it to drop by gravity out of the path of the trolleywire supports when the trolleywheel runs off the wire. i

A red D within the tubular trolley-pole has one end pivoted within the trolley-wheel section 6 and carries a spring-pressed dog (Z at the other end thereof adapted to slide in suitable guides within the tube 6. The dog (Z engages a shoulder or notch on a rocking plate or catch D, which is pivotally supported in slots formed through the tube 5 and has pivoted thereto one end of a'link e, the other end of which is pivoted to one arm of a rocking lever E, through which the pressure of the spring F is exerted in raising and sustaining the trolley-pole normally in working position. The lever E has its lower end or arm connected by a link 6 with an arm 6 projecting from the lower end of the trolley-pole, the said link 0 having an elongated slot therein, as at 0 to receive one of the pivot-bolts connecting it with the lever E and arm 6 so as to permit a limited movement of the trolley-pole independent of the lever mechanism when it is unlocked from the latter, and thereby released from the uplifting pressure of the spring F. Pivot-pins E and E on the lever E are adapted to engage seats therefor in the confronting edges of uprights or standards a a on the bracket A in such manner that in certain positions of the lever it will have its fulcrum on the pin E and in other positions on the pin E When the trolley-pole is raised to its normal working position, as shown in Fig. 1, the fulcrum of the lever is on the pin E, and the pole beinglocked to the lever by the dog engaging the catch D the power of the spring F will be exerted through the lever E and link 0 in sustaining the trolley-wheel in engagement with the electrical conductor or trolley-wire; but when the trolley-wheel runs off the wire the catch 1) will be released by the dog (Z and allow the trolley-pole to drop down and through the link 6', at the terminus of the movement allowed by the elongated slot and bolt connection at a move the lower ivot E a ainst its seat on the standards (0', thus shifting the fulcrum of the lever, and by reason of the increased leverage due to this change of fulcrum the power of the spring E will be sufficient to arrest the further downward movement of the trolley-pole. The lever E carries asegment E ,having an arc-shaped peripheral portion concentric with the fulcrum E and preferably grooved or channeled to receive a strap or straps connecting it with one end of the spring F, so that the distance from the point of connection with the spring to the fulcrum of the lever may remain the same regardless of the position of the lever, and thus equalize the power exerted in different positions of the lever.

For manipulating or pulling down the trolley-pole to disengage the trolley-wheel from the trolley-wire or for the purpose of guiding said wheel into engagement with the trolleywire the usual pull-cord H may be employed.

In operation the parts are held normally in the position shown in Fig. l by the force of the spring E, which is exerted through the described lever mechanism; but should the trolley-wheel run ofi the wire while the car is in motion the short section b of the trolleypole will be thrown out of alinement with the main section by the action of the spring G, throwing the sliding dog (Z out of engagement with the catch D, as shown in Fig. 2, thus releasing the trolley-pole from the tension or power exerted by the spring F and allowing it to drop down by gravity sufliciently to bring the trolley-wheel below the trolley-wire and its supports, and thereby prevent contact therewith as the car moves on. The initial downward movement of the trolley-pole is facilitated by the free play allowed by the slotand-bolt connection of the link a with the lever E, and its continued downward movement to a point which will insure a clearance between the trolley and the trolley-wire supports, as shown in Fig. 3, is accomplished by the weight of the descending trolley, which overcomes the force of the spring exerted on the short arm of the lever E with its fulcrum on the pivot E, while the weight of the descending pole is exerted on the longer arm of the lever; but when the pivot E reaches its seat on the standards a the fulcrum of the'lever shifts to this point, lengthening thearm of the lever to which the spring is attached and shortening the arm which is connected with the trolley-pole, and by reason of themcreased leverage thus afforded the spring will arrest the downward movement of the trolleypole. Thereupon a pull on the cord H will bring the section b of the trolley-pole into alinement with the longer section and allow the spring-pressed dog to reengage the catch 1), thus locking the trolley-pole to the springactuated lever mechanism through which when the pull on the cord H is released the trolleypole will be raised to operative position, the trolleywheel meanwhile being guided into contact with the trolley-wire by means of the cord H.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not desire to be limited to the exact embodiment herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination with a trolley-pole having a long and a short arm, a spring-actuated lever having a plurality of fulcrums and a link connecting each arm thereof with one arm of said pole for maintaining electrical contact between the trolley and a trolley-wire with a yielding pressure, means for automatically releasing the pressure and throwing the trolley out of the path of the trolley-wire and its supports when the trolley is disengaged from the trolley-wire, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a trolley-pole having a long and a short arm, a spring-actuated lever having a plurality of fulcrums and a link connecting each arm thereof with one arm of said pole for maintaining underneath electrical contact between the trolley and a trolleywire with a yielding pressure, means for automatically releasing the pressure and allowing the trolley to drop by gravity below the plane of the trolley-wire and its supports when the trolley is disengaged from the trolley-wire, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a trolley, mechanism exerting a pressure thereon to maintain electrical contact with a trolley-wire, comprising a rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums and links connecting its arms with the trolley-pole on opposite sides of the pivot of the latter and a spring acting through said lever and links to raise said pole, means for automatically releasing the pressure on the trolley and throwing the latter out of the path of the trolley-wire supports when the trolley is disengaged from the trolley-Wire, and means for restoring the pressure and returning the trolley into position to reestablish and maintain the electrical contact through the action of said pressure-exerting mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a trolley, mechanism for sustaining it yieldingly in electrical contact with a trolley wire comprising a rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums and links connecting-its arms with the trolleypole on opposite sides of the pivot of thelatter and a spring acting through said lever and links to raise said pole, together with means for releasing the hold of said sustaining mechanism to allow the trolley to descend by gravity out of the path of the trolley-wire supports when it is disengaged from the wire, and means for returning the trolley to working position through the medium of said sustaining mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the trolley-pole having arms of unequal length on opposite sides of its pivot and a hinged terminal section, and carrying a locking-dog engaging a catch pivoted on said pole, a rocking lever having two fulcrums on which it may rock, in different positions, a spring tending to raise said pole through said lever, a link connecting one arm of the lever with said catch on one side of the pivot of the pole, a second link connecting the other arm of the lever with an arm of the pole projecting from the opposite side of its pivot, and means for throwing said hinged section out of alinement with the adjoining member of the pole and unlocking the catch when the trolley is disengaged from the trolley-wire, whereby the trolley may be quickly automatically lowered out of the path of the trolley-Wire supports when the trolley leaves the wire, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a pivotallysupported trolley-pole, a' rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums and links pivotally connecting opposite ends thereof with the pole on opposite sides of its pivot, a spring acting through said lever to uphold the pole, means for releasing the hold of the spring and allow ing the pole to move downward clear of the trolley-Wire supports when the trolley is disengaged from the trolley-wire and shift the fulcrum of the lever to enable the spring to arrest the descent of the pole.

7. In combination with a pivotally-supported trolley-pole, a rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums and links pivotally connecting opposite ends thereof with the pole on opposite sides of its pivot, a spring acting through said lever to uphold the pole, means for releasing the hold of the spring and allowing the pole to move downward clear of the trolley-wire supports when the trolley is disengaged from the trolley-wire and shift the fulcrum of the lever to enable the spring to arrest the descent of the pole, and means for reengaging said releasing means to enable the spring to raise the pole to working position.

8. In combination with atrolley and springactuated mechanism for sustaining it yieldingly in engagement with a trolley-wire, a rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums forming a part of said mechanism, means for releasing the hold of the spring to permit the trolley to descend below the trolley-wire when disengaged therefrom and shift the fulcrum of the lever so as to increase the leverage and adapt the spring to arrest the descent of the trolley.

99. In combination with a trolley and springactuated mechanism for sustaining it yieldingly in engagement with a trolley-wire, a rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums forming a part of said mechanism, means for releasing the hold of the spring to permit the trolley to descend below the trolley-wire when disengaged therefrom together with means for shifting the fulcrum of the lever so as to increase the leverage and adapt the spring to arrest the descent of the trolley, and means for rengaging said releasing means to enable the spring to raise the trolley.

10. In combination with the pivotally-supported trolley-pole, the lever connected therewith having two fulcrums on which it may alternately rock, a spring tending to raise the pole through said lever, and means for releasing the hold of the spring and allowing the pole to descend and shift the fulcrum of the lever whlich thereupon arrests the descent of the po e.

11. In combination with the pivotally-supported trolley-pole, the lever connected therewith having two fulcrums on which it may alternately rock, a spring tending to raise the pole through said lever, and means for releasing the hold of the spring and allowing the pole to descend and shift the fulcrum of the lever which thereupon arrests the descent of the pole, together with means for rengaging said releasing means to cause the spring-actuated lever to raise the pole.

12. In combination with the trolley-pole,the spring, the interposed lever having a plurality of pivots and an equalizing-segment connected with said spring, and links connecting the pole and lever on opposite sides of their pivots.

13. In combination with the trolley-pole, a spring and an interposed rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums and links connecting the pole and lever on opposite sides of their fulcrums adapted to yieldingly uphold the trolley and permit it to be automatically lowered and to raise it after lowering, substantially as described.

14. In combination with a trolley-pole having a long and a short arm. a rocking lever and a link connecting each arm thereof with one arm of said pole, a spring acting through said lever and links to yieldingly uphold the pole, and means for automatically releasing the pressure of the spring when the trolley- Wheel runs off the trolley-wire so as to allow the pole to descend by gravity.

15. In combination with atrolley-pole having a long and a short arm, a rocking lever and a link connecting each arm thereof with one arm of said pole, a spring acting through said lever and links to yieldingl uphold the pole, and means for automatica 1y releasing the pressure of the spring when the trolleywheel runs off the trolley-wire, so as to allow the pole to descend by gravity, together with means for resetting said releasing means and raising the pole through the action of said spring.

16. In combination with a trolley-pole having a long and a short arm, a rocking lever having a plurality of fulcrums and a link con- 5 necting each arm thereof with one arm of said pole, a spring acting through said lever and links to yieldingly uphold the pole, and means for automatically releasing the pressure of the spring when the trolley-wheel runs off the trolley-wire, so as to allow the pole to descend by gravity, together with means for resetting said releasing means and raising the pole through the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

DANIEL ROGAN, OSGOOD H. DOWELL. 

